San Diego Padres: Manny Machado wants Fernando Tatis on Opening Day roster
By David Hill
If it was up to new San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado, the future would be now for at least one member of the team.
During free agency, there was some question as to what position Manny Machado would play. He was known to prefer playing short, but the defensive metrics indicated that Machado was superior at third base. Even the eyeball and hardware tests backed up that assessment, as Machado had earned two Gold Gloves, and the 2013 AL Platinum Glove, for his work at third base.
When he signed with the San Diego Padres, Machado put that speculation to rest. He claimed that he was there to play third, especially as Fernando Tatis Jr.was the shortstop of the future. Given his success at the hot corner, and the status of the Padres up and coming top prospect, that statement made sense.
It was a statement that Machado reiterated over the weekend. Following his first game with the Padres, he stated that not only did he want Tatis to play short, but he also wanted the top prospect as part of the Opening Day lineup.
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Considering how much teams pay attention to service time and keeping top prospects under control for that additional season, it would be an upset to see Tatis as part of the Opening Day lineup. After all, Tatis is just 20 years old, and has yet to play a game above AA in his professional career.
However, he has not been overmatched in Spring Training. Instead, Tatis has produced a solid .294/.368/.706 batting line, hitting two homers and a double in 19 plate appearances. Yes, he has struck out five times, but that is part of the learning curve as he acclimates to higher levels.
Given his relative inexperience in the higher levels of the minors, it would not be a surprise to see Tatis start the year in AAA. After all, he only has 102 games of experience at the major league level. A month or two at AAA, where Tatis can get accustomed to a higher level of competition, could help his transition to the majors, letting him find more success.
Next. Padres add bullpen depth with Adam Warren. dark
Manny Machado wants Fernando Tatis Jr.as part of the San Diego Padres Opening Day lineup. Despite what Machado wants, it would make sense to give Tatis a month or two in AAA to be better prepared for the majors.